The Gentle Counsellor

24/01/2026

There's a moment every parent knows intimately: a child looks up, eyes bright and searching, after stacking the final block or finishing their drawing.

There’s that smile and then, almost automatically, "Good job!"

It's warm, well-intentioned, and genuinely loving. But what if that moment is really your child asking: "Do you see ME? Do I matter?"

When we shift from evaluating what our children DO to delighting in who they ARE, something beautiful happens. They stop performing for approval and start discovering their own worth.

It's not about perfect parenting. It's about presence. It's about letting your delight in your child lead the way.

Read our latest blog to discover how this simple shift transforms everyday moments: https://zurl.co/EHhI8

26/12/2025

20/12/2025

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Friendly holiday reminder 👀

These five things are not invited for the rest of 2025, and honestly, we’re better off without them all year round. 👏🫢

Follow for gentle reminders around food, body image, and ditching diet culture this holiday season and beyond ✨

05/12/2025

Time Outs may not be working the way we think they are.

When your child is having a meltdown, their brain is only focused on finding safety - not learning lessons. They can't access wisdom or logic in those big emotional moments because that part of their brain simply isn't developed yet.

Here's what we're learning: children don't learn to self-soothe alone. They learn to regulate WITH you, through your calm presence and connection.

We call this "Time In," a relationship-based approach that builds security while still providing structure.

Read the full blog to discover this brain-based alternative: https://zurl.co/rsM4E

17/11/2025

Sending much compassion to those who know this pain. 💔💔
New retreat details @ linktr.ee/natepost
I’m glad you’re here! 🫶✨💞

13/11/2025

😂

09/11/2025

28/10/2025

Lean how secure attachment develops with responsive presence and reflection, not perfect technique.

23/10/2025

Every single thing…..

New episode of “A Little Less Lonely” is up! Check linktr.ee/natepost for links….

I’m so glad you’re here! 🫶💞✨

08/10/2025

Every 👏 day 👏

The good days.
The hard days.
The days of smiles.
The days of tears.

When you have both everything AND nothing left to give, remember that what they need is for YOU to love them.

Love your child at every age, whether they are 2 or 15 or 37 or 55!

You don’t age out of parenthood.

16/09/2025

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11/09/2025

Here is how you can help create safe environments...
🏡 At Home: build connections, encourage open communication, teach body safety and consent, use respectful discipline, celebrate individuality.
🎒 At School or Childcare: promote kindness and inclusion, have clear safety policies, provide trusted adults, listen to concerns, create a sense of belonging.
🤝 In the Community: be a protective bystander, support youth programs, speak up about unsafe behaviour, model respect and boundaries.

🌍 Globally: Currently there are real, urgent threats that children face worldwide, including violence, conflict, and unsafe environments created by adults.
- Gun violence (school shootings in the US)
- Genocides and War (Palestine, Congo, Sudan)
- Unequal enforcement of child protection laws and rights
- International agreements like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) aim to protect children, but not all governments uphold these equally

💛 What are some of your favourite children's books that speak on bigger topics? One of ours is 'Finding Our Heart: A Story about the Uluru Statement for Young Australians' by Thomas Mayo, illustrated by Blak Douglas.

At The Gentle Counsellor, I work with parents and families from a trauma-informed perspective, supporting them to break cycles, strengthen relationships, and create safety at home. My children’s books — Tricky People and the My Body series — are gentle, practical tools to start conversations about body safety, consent, and tricky situations. 📚